YMCA hails partnership, chance to expand wellness

Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 4:37 p.m.

For the YMCA, expansion into Fletcher is simply about expanding wellness and reaching more people.

The opportunity to partner with Mission Health and Pardee Hospital on a new facility was a no-brainer, said John Mikos, COO of the YMCA of Western North Carolina. Discussions are under way about the design of the 40,000-square-foot building, half of which will be used by the YMCA. The facility will sit adjacent to the 80,000-square-foot Pardee-Mission Health Campus on Hendersonville Road.

The project doesn’t have a start date yet, Mikos said, but the estimated completion date is next summer. When the facility is complete, it’ll be another step toward the YMCA’s goal of expanding wellness across Western North Carolina.

The expansion in Fletcher will not replace the Hendersonville Family YMCA on Sixth Avenue. It’s just another piece to a wellness puzzle. Three years ago, the YMCA of Western North Carolina finalized what it calls the “2020 Plan.”

That plan is to spread as much wellness across Western North Carolina as it can during the decade. That includes expansion of facilities and services.

It all begins with the YMCA’s mission, “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body all.” Its cause is to “build healthier communities in Western North Carolina.”

Fast forward seven years, and Mikos said the YMCA’s vision is simple.

“We want it to be better than it is today,” he said.

The nonprofit’s goals are to fight childhood obesity, curb preventable diseases, increase access to program and services, increase healthy activities for senior citizens and to increase care for an underserved community.

Fletcher lends itself to that vision simply due to the density in population. There is a need there, Mikos said.

The facility, which will take up the first level of the building beneath Mission and Pardee offices, will not have a pool or gymnasium, but will offer healthy living courses, diabetes prevention, healthy cooking classes, activities for the older population, yoga, Pilates and other group exercises.

<p>For the YMCA, expansion into Fletcher is simply about expanding wellness and reaching more people. </p><p>The opportunity to partner with Mission Health and Pardee Hospital on a new facility was a no-brainer, said John Mikos, COO of the YMCA of Western North Carolina. Discussions are under way about the design of the 40,000-square-foot building, half of which will be used by the YMCA. The facility will sit adjacent to the 80,000-square-foot Pardee-Mission Health Campus on Hendersonville Road.</p><p>The project doesn't have a start date yet, Mikos said, but the estimated completion date is next summer. When the facility is complete, it'll be another step toward the YMCA's goal of expanding wellness across Western North Carolina. </p><p>“The partnership begins to expand our services to people that need it,” Mikos added. </p><p>The expansion in Fletcher will not replace the Hendersonville Family YMCA on Sixth Avenue. It's just another piece to a wellness puzzle. Three years ago, the YMCA of Western North Carolina finalized what it calls the “2020 Plan.” </p><p>That plan is to spread as much wellness across Western North Carolina as it can during the decade. That includes expansion of facilities and services. </p><p>It all begins with the YMCA's mission, “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body all.” Its cause is to “build healthier communities in Western North Carolina.”</p><p>Fast forward seven years, and Mikos said the YMCA's vision is simple.</p><p>“We want it to be better than it is today,” he said. </p><p>The nonprofit's goals are to fight childhood obesity, curb preventable diseases, increase access to program and services, increase healthy activities for senior citizens and to increase care for an underserved community. </p><p>Fletcher lends itself to that vision simply due to the density in population. There is a need there, Mikos said. </p><p>The facility, which will take up the first level of the building beneath Mission and Pardee offices, will not have a pool or gymnasium, but will offer healthy living courses, diabetes prevention, healthy cooking classes, activities for the older population, yoga, Pilates and other group exercises.</p><p>At the end of the day, all roads end at wellness, Mikos said. </p><p>“That is ultimately where all of us are trying to head to,” he said. </p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@bluerdigenow.com.</p>